VerThe Vanderbilt Hustler’s Arts & su Entertainment Magazine s MARCH 25—MARCH 31, 2009 VOL. 47, NO. 10 Spring checklist: things to do in Nashville Versus ponders the best of Nashville 10centric activities. With fi nals on the horizon, we bet it’s the most fun list you’ll see until summer. Flip to page 7 and let the adventure begin. What do candy bars, Flo Rida and Harry Potter have in common? Check out page 6. Beyond the Munchie Mart: tales of shopping in an actual grocery store. Impossible? Think again and turn to page 5. Today, I drew the short straw at the offi ce and had to write cover chatter. FML. Page 8. PLACES TO GO, PEOPLE TO SEE THURSDAY, MARCH 26 FRIDAY, MARCH 27 SATURDAY, MARCH 28 The Regulars Mississippi Rocks The Ryman — Ryman Butch Walker with Ponderosa — Exit/In Dave Bennett — Nashville Symphony THE RUTLEDGE He’s produced everyone from Pink to Katy Perry (including Lindsay This 23-year-old clarinetist is described as an authentic musical Auditorium 410 Fourth Ave. South 37201 Chart-topping group 3 Doors Down headline Nashville’s historic Lohan), but Butch Walker has a lot to offer as a singer-songwriter prodigy. This week, he will be celebrating the 100th birthday of 782-6858 Ryman Auditorium for the first time. Opening acts include himself. He’s fresh off the release of his latest album. “Sycamore Benny Goodman, the King of Swing (who you might know for the Mississippi native Chad Harris and 7dayBinge, rock acts sure Meadows,” and he’ll bring his brand of groovy rock into town for “Chips Ahoy!” cookie theme, “Sing Sing Sing”). If you’re a fan of to provide an excellent show. The show benefits the Chris Bond a great show. ($17 advance, $20 day of show, 9 p.m.) big band jazz, hit up this show. ($40, 8 p.m., 1 Symphony Place) THE MERCY LOUNGE/CANNERY Memorial Scholarship Fund, which helps fund college education BALLROOM costs for Nashville locals attending The University of Mississippi. Irlene Mandrell — The Palace 1 Cannery Row 37203 ($65-$75, 7:30 p.m.) Bill Bellamy — Zanies Comedy Night Club For an interesting change of pace, come check out the variety 251-3020 Bill Bellamy has been all over the country, trading his comedy show put on at The Palace including musical acts, comedy skits Percussion Ensemble — Belmont University and energetic jokes for laughter and energetic applause. Put your and even dinner. Irlene Mandrell is the host and has proven her BLUEBIRD CAFE Belmont’s School of Music puts on a show featuring a dancing shoes on and sit down at Zanies for a performance much entertainment power on the country comedy show “Hee Haw” and 4104 Hillsboro Road 37215 wide variety of material from classical to jazz to world more exciting than dancing! Try not to hurt yourself slapping your the NBC show “Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters.” For 383-1461 music. With performers including both undergraduate knees. ($20, 7:30 p.m., 2025 Eighth Ave. South) country music and fun (and a buffet country dinner), check this and graduate percussion majors, Belmont’s Percussion show out. ($40, 4 p.m., 2611 McGavock Pike) EXIT/IN Ensemble allows students to explore chamber music through Born Empty, Hammer No More The Fingers and 2208 Elliston Place 37203 percussion performance and composition. (Free, 7:30 p.m.) more — The End Jody Nardone Trio — F. Scott’s Restaurant and 321-3340 Both Born Empty and Hammer No More The Fingers bring their Jazz Bar Matt Wertz with Michael Tolcher — Exit/In own brands of jams to The End, and you better be there! Nashville I still haven’t made it out to F. Scott’s, and chances are you haven’t STATION INN Local Nashville singer-songwriter Matt Wertz returns to the Exit/ homegrowns Empty have spent years polishing their sound, ending either. If you’re a jazz fan, this is a travesty. Jody Nardone presents 402 12th Ave. South 37203 In. His album “Twenty Three Places” was released in 2003, and with a unique blend of awesome and more awesome. Opener Slam an excellent opportunity to experience this gem of Nashville, as he 255-3307 audiences still enjoy hearing tracks such as “Everything’s Right” Dunk Contest only sweetens the deal. ($5, 9 p.m.) has worked with such artists as The Flooting Men, Bob Delevante and “Marianne” at shows today. ($15 advance/$17 day of show, and Jeff Black and has performed alongside members of Bruce THE BASEMENT 8 p.m.) Off the Wagon — Station Inn Springsteen’s band and vocalists Michael McDonald and Kevin 1604 Eighth Ave. South 37203 For too long, bluegrass ensembles have been pussyfooting around Whalum. (Free, 7:30 p.m.) 254-1604 Josh Garrett & The Bottom Line Band — Bourbon the real music, leaving their dignity at the door and playing a Street Blues and Boogie Bar shameless pop mutation of aural glory. Off the Wagon has Chairlift — Exit/In F. SCOTT’S RESTAURANT AND Josh Garrett, a twentysomething rambler from New Roads, La., reclaimed what once was, what time dismissed at a snippet in the This band from Brooklyn originally formed to make music for JAZZ BAR plays a unique blend of music with influences ranging from soundtrack of history. ($10, 9 p.m.) haunted houses, but ended up moving to New York and expanding 2210 Crestmoor Road 37215 New Orleans funk to zydeco to rock ’n’ roll. His music has been their musical goals. They have played shows with other up and 269-5861 entertaining audiences for the past five years — join the crowd at Harvard University’s Radcliffe Choral Society and coming bands like MGMT, Yeasayer, and Mixel Pixel. One could the Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar for what’s sure to be an Vanderbilt Concert Choir — Christ the King Church say that Chairlift is on the rise … best load up now. ($12, 10:45 SCHERMERHORN SYMPHONY exciting show. (Tickets TBA, 9 p.m., 220 Printers Alley) Rarely does such a cultured, practice, tradition-rich opportunity p.m.) CENTER come so close to home, without so much as a price tag. Enjoy the 1 Symphony Place 37201 Vickie Raye — The Listening Room Cafe beautiful noise of Harvard’s all-woman ensemble, singing tunes Jedd Hughes — 3rd and Lindsley 687-6500 Puerto Rican songbird Vickie Raye got her start singing covers for comparable to those of heaven’s angels — the experience will This Australian was raised listening to classic American country her family in her home’s living room. With a performance career make your day, if not your week. (Free, 7:30 p.m., 3001 Belmont singers like Johnny Cash and Marty Robbins. As a guitarist, he 3RD AND LINDSLEY that began formally at just 8 years old, Vickie Raye is sure to have Boulevard) has performed with Patty Loveless on stage at the Grand Ole Opry 818 Third Ave. South 37210 a bright future ahead. (Tickets TBA, 6 p.m.) and the MerleFest bluegrass festival. Plus, he’s performing with a 259-9891 The Comic Intermezzo — The Blair School of Music band called Grooveyard, which I feel is an amazing enough name Junior Brown — Station Inn Though Blair’s homespun performances are always top notch, to warrant the price of admission (whatever that may be). ($TBD, Junior Brown is no ordinary singer-songwriter toting a guitar and occasionally they bring in a guest that will truly knock your socks 7 p.m.) CAFE COCO a few heartfelt lyrics. His performance style, which has brought off. The Comic Intermezzo is one such guest, presenting a rousing 210 Louise Ave. 37203 him fame from Texas honkytonks to hip venues in some of the performance of Mozart’s Dice Game. (Free, 8 p.m.) Cage the Elephant — The Basement 321-2626 nation’s biggest cities, is supplemented by something altogether Cage the Elephant hails from Bowling Green, Ky. While I’m not new — his own instrument, the “guit-steel.” A combination of sure how many elephants there are in Kentucky, I do know that the traditional six-string guitar and the steel guitar, this new and there are talented musicians, as evidenced by the group. With a innovative instrument has kept crowds coming back for more. blend of rap, rock and funk, this should be a great alternative ($20, 9 p.m.) music show. ($TBD, 9 p.m.) THIS ISSUE Versus Bits & Pieces MARCH 25—MARCH 31, 2009 VOL. 47, NO. 10 • Your life in the stars, 2 • Overheard at Vanderbilt, 2 Versus FROM THE EDITOR • Words to live by in 17 syllables, 2 Magazine 3 EDITORIAL BOARD Entertainment • Trade up from the Munchie Mart, 5 Editor in Chief • We love “I Love You, Man,” 5 Chris Gearing Managing Editor Music Sara Gast 4 • Flo Rida spins our heads right round, right round, 6 Features Editor • Musical mash-ups are retro, in a cool Courtney Rogers way, 7 • Where are you headed, Beatles fan? Culture Editors “Nowhere Boy,” 7 Trip Cothren Holly Meehl There must be some kind of way out of here, said the joker to the thief … Procrastination Music Editors • A Web site Thumper would have Charlie Kesslering Man, Bob Dylan can write some lyrics (like the one above 5 loved, 8 Avery Spofford from “All Along The Watchtower”). There’s little argument that he’s the best American songwriter who’s ever lived. Talk • How to feel better about your day, 8 Head Writer to anyone who’s followed him, because they’ll say that he’s Kris Stensland one of their major infl uences.